Clash of Titans – N1K2-J Shiden Kai fighters of 343 Kokutai “Genda’s Blade” vs. F6F-5 Hellcats of VBF-17 “Jolly Rogers.” The beginning of an epic air battle over the Bungo Strait, the morning of March 19, 1945. George “343-C-45” was the personal aircraft of Captain Oshibuchi, the commander of 701 Hikotai, who led all 343 Ku forces in this clash. In the foreground, the 20mm cannon-fire-spewing aircraft belongs to his wingman, Petty Officer Ishikawa. At the controls of Hellcat “White 35” is Captain Prinz, with his wingman Lieutenant Roger Karr in “White 31.”
At dawn on March 19, 1945, Admiral Marc Mitscher’s carrier strike group (Task Force 58) launched Hellcat and Corsair fighter-bombers and Helldiver dive bombers. Their target was one of the Japanese Navy’s largest bases in Kure, as well as the IJNAF base at Matsuyama (home airfield of 343 Ku). For the pilots of the later-famous “Genda’s Blade,” this was the first opportunity to engage in combat. The corps had only reached full combat readiness a week earlier and was not fully equipped with Shiden Kai fighters (they still had a dozen older K1N1-J Shiden aircraft), and two previous missions (on March 13 and 18) had not encountered Americans. Although the unit was only beginning its combat path, most of its personnel were battle-hardened pilots. VBF-17 was a unit continuing the tradition of the legendary “Jolly Rogers,” currently flying F6F-5s from the USS Hornet (CV-12). Few veterans were remaining from Corsair battles over the Solomons, but they were experienced pilots, seasoned in combat over the Marianas.
Fifteen minutes before 6 a.m., increased activity on TF58’s decks was noticed by three C6N Saiun aircraft (also part of 343 Ku). An hour later, Minoru Genda sent four more Saiuns into the air with an escort of seven N1K1-J Shiden. Soon, the main forces of “Genda’s Blade” took off: 16 Shiden Kai from 701 Hikotai (Captain Oshibuchi), 17 from 407 Hikotai (Captain Hayashi), and 21 from 301 Hikotai (Captain Kanno). The 701 and 301 Hikotai confronted the “Jolly Rogers.” The 407th was ordered to return to base due to the approach of a strong enemy formation (American units returning from Kure).
The encounter depicted in the image lasted only a few moments. Opponents riddled both Hellcats. Lieutenant Karr (hit by Petty Officer Ishikawa) was killed along with his aircraft. Captain Prinz, hit by Oshibuchi, managed to make it back to the carrier and survived the clash, though his damaged fighter was thrown overboard. Petty Officer Ishikawa survived his opponent by a few minutes. His Shiden Kai was hit in the engine by a burst from the VBF-17 commander, Captain Edwin Conant, and burst into flames. Ishikawa managed to bail out, but his parachute did not open.
At the same time, Captain Hayashi’s 407 Hikotai, recalled to base, was locked in an intense battle. Seventeen Shiden Kai engaged three fighter squadrons (VF-9, VF-29, and VF-83) and a Helldiver squadron. The 407th suffered the heaviest losses, with seven aircraft and four pilots lost. They were unable to fully engage all the opponents, resulting in part of the American formation attacking the Matsuyama airfield. The enemy, however, could not consider the clash a success. They also suffered significant losses, and the planes attacking the base focused on parking positions, destroying several… decoys and causing only minor damage to infrastructure.
VBF-17 lost six pilots in combat with 343 Ku (three were taken prisoner, and three others died), as well as three more aircraft damaged during landing. Almost all remaining aircraft sustained some degree of damage. In return, the Americans claimed 26 victories, though 701 Hikotai lost four fighters, and 301 only two.
The summary of the March 19 operation shocked the Americans. The total losses in the 1.5-hour-long battle included 48 Hellcat and Corsair fighters and four Helldivers. “Genda’s Blade” lost 11 pilots and 13 aircraft (plus two Saiuns from the second observation wave, which joined the fight against fighters (!) under Lieutenant Takada’s command). Five additional Shiden Kai were wrecked in forced landings on the way back to base, and four others sustained severe damage.
One of the VBF-17 squadron leaders, Marianas veteran Lieutenant Chuck Weiss, wrote in his report: “The enemy was fierce and well-trained. They attacked methodically, maintaining altitude advantage and an unusual formation of two pairs covering each other, atypical for the Japanese. They exploited the similarity of their aircraft to our F6F-5s. In short, this time there was no ‘turkey shoot.’ Pilots reported numerous hits and damage to their aircraft. Extra fuel tanks exploded, controls jammed, oil sprayed, and machine guns jammed. It all looked very bad.”
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